Lighting fixture



April 8, 1941. 1.. c. DOANE 2.237.657

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 5, 1939 INVENTOR Leroy C'. Duane ATTO R N EY l ateniecl Apr. 8, 1941 LIGHTING FIXTURE Leroy C. Doane, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application May 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,434

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures, and is more particularly directed toward lighting fixtures having ventilated lamp sockets.

The present invention is particularly directed toward devices adapted to use the high wattage lamps known as the bi-post type of lamp. These lamps are small but of high wattage and create socket and wire temperatures considerably above the temperatures that prevail with the more ordinary type of lamp bulb of the same wattage. With the larger wattage bi-post lamps special wiring has been required. According to the present invention arrangements are provided whereby this wiring and the socket can be adequately ventilated so that excess temperatures do not occur.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, two embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of the lighting fixture embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of construction.

A conventional lamp socket of the lei-post type is indicated at It] and lamp bulb at II. The pipe or conduit through which the current supply wires extend is indicated at It. It is threaded at the lower end as indicated at l3, and receives a threaded fitting M with looking screw indicated at It and a strap having outwardly extending arms, one of which appears at IS. The ends of these arms are secured to straps I! by welding or otherwise, and these straps extend down a substantial distance below the open end of the pipe or conduit I2 to form a laterally open yoke. The lower ends of the arms are bent inwardly, as indicated at l8, and are secured to the socket in by the screws indicated at 19.

Wires are indicated at 20 and 2|. These wires extend across the space provided and are held apart by a spreader 22, so that air can freely circulate around each of the wires. The socket cover supporting frame formed by the straps and the wires are received in a socket cover 23 preferably of drawn sheet metal and of a size to fit closely about the top of the lamp- H, the side of the socket Ill and about the frame. The socket cover is secured to the pipe l2 by nuts indicated at 24. The socket cover is provided with a plurality of elongated openings 25 extending from the top of the socket cover nearly down to the level of the top of the socket. These openings permit rapid circulation of air through the space occupied by the wires so that they are kept cool. The openings 25 are screened by a sleeve or ring 2% which rests on a bead 2'! formed in the socket cover 23. The socket cover may, if desired, be employed to support the reflector, bowl or other equipment enclosing the lamp.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figure 3, the socket cover 23' is provided with apertures 30 opposite the socket it with a gasket 3i above the socket and a gasket 32 below the socket and against which the lamp is adapted to be brought. This arrangement provides further ventilation for the socket and retards the rise of the heated air into the chamber about the exposed wires.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighting fixture, a downwardly opening bi-post lamp socket, a bi-post lamp carried there-- by, a socket support including a pipe and a yoke having a substantial vertical dimension and laterally open, current sup-ply wires connected to the terminals of the socket and subject to high temperature rise incident to lamp operation, the

; wires extending upwardly from the socket and through the space provided by the yoke and into the pipe, and a socket cover disposed closely about the socket, the socket cover extending below the socket and about the top of the lamp to create a dead air space about the top of the lamp and restrict the circulation of air through the socket and. extending above and about the yoke, the socket cover having ventilation openings above the socket occupying a substantial portion of its area whereby the air can freely circulate about the exposed wires and cool the wires below the pipe.

2. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, wherein the openings are elongated and extend from nearly the top of the socket cover to the level of the socket.

3. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, having a gasket extending across the socket cover closely above the top of the socket.

4, A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the socket cover also has ventilation openings below the top of the socket.

5. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, having a spreader to hold the exposed. wires separated.

6. In a lighting fixture, a pendent tubular support, a laterally open yoke secured to the lower end of the support, a bi-post lamp socket secured to the yoke, a bi-post lamp carried by the socket, the length of the yoke being substantially the length of the socket, exposed wires electrically and conductively connected to the terminals of the socket to supply current and partake of the temperature rise incident to lamp operation and extending through the space provided by the yoke and into the tubular support, so that air may freely circulate about the wires and cool them, and a socket cover also secured to the lower end of the tubular support, extending downwardly outside the yoke, closely past the socket and about the top of the lamp, and having elongated 10 ventilation openings above the top of the socket.

LEROY C. DOANE. 

